There’s no denying that the rising cost of living in Australia has had a significant impact on our personal finances, which is why it’s no surprise that many Aussies are put off by the prospect of spending thousands of their hard-earned dollars on brand-new flagship smartphones these days – especially when many ‘new’ handsets are only marginal improvements on last-year’s models.
Sure, you could always spend less by opting for a more affordable mid-range or budget handset, though that often results in a noticeable downgrade in general performance and camera quality.
But what if there was a way to get your hands on a recent flagship model without having to pay full retail price? Better yet, what if you were able to save up to 50% off the RRP?
If you're looking to upgrade to a new handset for less, eBay's refurbished range includes devices from the biggest brands including Apple, Samsung and Google.
Click here to browse eBay's huge range of quality refurbished phones.
This is where eBay’s Refurbished Program comes in. Not only does it let you purchase like-new refurbished products with a clear idea of what you’ll be getting in terms of quality, but all eBay Refurbished items come with minimum 1-year warranty from the seller, so you know you’re getting a quality device. Simply look for the blue ‘Refurbished’ tick for verification.
As part of its official Refurbished Program, eBay offers four distinct levels of refurbishment: Certified, Excellent, Very Good and Good. You’ll find that the condition level of refurbished items is clearly labelled right under the listing title. The image below will give you a good indication of what to expect from each level of refurbishment.
‘Certified’ is the highest level, indicating that the condition of a refurbished item is as close to new as possible, and has been professionally inspected, cleaned and refurbished by a manufacturer or manufacturer-approved vendor. This is followed by three Seller Refurbished tiers – ‘Excellent’, ‘Very Good’ and ‘Good’. These items have been refurbished by the seller themselves and still offer all the same protections and value as Certified Refurbished products – in fact, the discounts are generally even more substantial on Seller Refurbished items.
Of course, whichever condition level you end up choosing, you’re still assured that every product in eBay’s Refurbished program has met the site’s exacting requirements. For phones, that includes a 30-point inspection by special ‘Quality-Vetted Sellers’ who are continuously monitored by eBay.
As an added bonus to the savings you’ll make by purchasing a refurbished product, you’ll also have the satisfaction of knowing that you’ve made a step toward reducing your carbon footprint, with one less brand-new device out there. Every little bit counts!
In terms of which refurbished handsets you can expect to find, a good rule of thumb is to look for devices which have recently been superseded by a new model. That means you can save money on a ‘like-new’ flagship smartphone which is still operating at the peak of its performance, and which has only been replaced by those who feel compelled to own the latest version.
Below are just a few examples of like-new handsets which you can currently find on sale in eBay’s Refurbished Program, all backed by a 1-year warranty to ensure that you can get a quality refurbished product without the risk.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3
With its foldable display and compact design, last year’s Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 3 is still one of the most cutting edge smartphones currently available. And, with the recent release of the Galaxy Z Flip 4, now’s the perfect time to pick up its predecessor for way less than the cost of the latest model, which looks nearly identical and only sports a couple of improvements. For as little as AU$769, you can get your hands on a refurbished Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 in ‘Excellent’ condition that’s backed by a 1-year warranty from the seller. Taking into consideration that the usual RRP is AU$1,349, that’s an incredible deal.
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
Apple’s iPhone handsets are built to last, powered by chips developed in-house which are among the fastest and most powerful that you’ll find in any smartphone. Because of this, a flagship device like 2020’s iPhone 12 Pro Max still more than holds its own against today’s top handsets. Powered by Apple’s A14 Bionic chip, the iPhone 12 Pro Max offers an excellent triple-lens camera array and a brilliant 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, along with 6GB of RAM. Right now, you can pick it up in eBay’s Certified Refurbished program at prices from AU$1,199 to AU$1,469. When you consider that the iPhone 12 Pro Max’s full retail price extends up to AU$2,299, that’s a massive saving!
Samsung Galaxy S21
Why bother settling for a mid-range smartphone when you can go refurbished and get a true flagship like Samsung’s Galaxy S21 – a phone which was only released last year? Here’s a device that carries a powerhouse Exynos 2100 chipset, 8GB of RAM, a silky smooth 120Hz display and an exceptional triple-lens camera array that’s led by a 64MP primary sensor, and you can own it from as little as AU$589 (AU$999 RRP) with a 1-year warranty included – that’s even cheaper than you’d pay for the slower Galaxy S21 FE when new!
